Antibodies and activity measurements for the detection of O-GlcNAc transferase and assay of its substrate, UDP-GlcNAc

Methods Mol Biol. 2013:1022:147-59. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-465-4_12.

Abstract

Since the discovery of O-GlcNAc modification (O-GlcNAcylation) 20 years ago, much attention has been given to OGT (O-GlcNAc transferase), the unique enzyme responsible for the nuclear and cytosolic O-GlcNAcylation processes. This review focuses on protocols that are routinely used to analyze OGT expression and activity. First are detailed techniques using rabbit polyclonal anti-OGT antibodies, namely, Western blot, (co-)immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence. We also describe the measurement of OGT activity by using synthetic peptides as acceptors and radiolabeled UDP-GlcNAc. Finally, a sensitive HPAEC-based technique to measure the cellular content of UDP-GlcNAc, the donor substrate of OGT, is described in detail.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acetylglucosamine / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / analysis
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / methods
  • Enzyme Assays / methods*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / analysis*
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Silver Staining / methods
  • Uridine Diphosphate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Uridine Diphosphate / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Uridine Diphosphate
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases
  • O-GlcNAc transferase
  • Acetylglucosamine